Strawberry plant named &#39;Caprice&#39;

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides new and distinct strawberry plants designated as ‘Caprice’ (a.k.a. ‘109862’) and ‘Victor’ (a.k.a. ‘102850’).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/550,183, filed on Aug. 25, 2017, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria x ananassa.

Varietal denominations: ‘Caprice’ (a.k.a. ‘109862’). ‘Victor’ (a.k.a. ‘102850’).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to new and distinct strawberry plants designated as ‘Caprice’ (a.k.a. ‘109862’) and ‘Victor’ (a.k.a. ‘102850’).

‘Caprice’ (a.k.a. 109862) is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parent cultivar designated ‘109013’ and a male parent cultivar designated ‘Crystalina’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,867) made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated ‘109862’ and subsequently named ‘Caprice’. ‘Caprice’ is a day-neutral plant.

‘Victor’ (a.k.a. ‘102850’) is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parent cultivar designated ‘1046’ and a male parent cultivar designated ‘1033’ made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated ‘102850’ and subsequently named ‘Victor’. ‘Victor’ is a short-day plant.

These new strawberry plants were asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of these plants were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. These plants are stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to new and distinctive strawberry plants designated as ‘Caprice’ (a.k.a. ‘109862’) and ‘Victor’ (a.k.a. ‘102850’). These plants are primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish strawberry plant ‘Caprice’ and ‘Victor’ from known strawberry plants. In addition, these plants were confirmed, or will be confirmed to be a unique strawberry germplasm using Short Sequence Repeats (SSRs). Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. Any color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

When compared to the proprietary male parent, ‘Caprice’ has smaller fruit than its male parent. Additionally, ‘Caprice’ produces more fruit and is a larger plant than the male parent. When compared to the proprietary female parent, ‘Caprice’ is a larger, more upright plant than the female parent. Additionally, ‘Caprice’ has longer petioles and larger fruit than the female parent.

When ‘Victor’ is compared to the proprietary male parent, ‘Victor’ has larger fruit. When compared to the proprietary female parent, ‘Victor’ presents larger, more conical fruit. Additionally, the female parent presents more firm fruit than ‘Victor’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the cultivars as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions.

FIG. 1A shows ‘Caprice’ plant about 6-month old.

FIG. 1B shows ripe and near-ripe fruits of ‘Caprice’ about 8-month old.

FIG. 1C shows flowers of ‘Caprice’.

FIG. 1D shows fruits of ‘Caprice’.

FIG. 1E shows cut fruits of ‘Caprice’.

FIG. 1F shows upper leaf of ‘Caprice’.

FIG. 1G shows lower leaf of ‘Caprice’.

FIG. 2A shows ‘Victor’ plant about 4-month old.

FIG. 2B shows ripe and near-ripe fruits of ‘Victor’ about 7-month old.

FIG. 2C shows flowers of ‘Victor’.

FIG. 2D shows fruits of ‘Victor’.

FIG. 2E shows cut fruits of ‘Victor’.

FIG. 2F shows upper leaf of ‘Victor’.

FIG. 2G shows lower leaf of ‘Victor’.

FIG. 2H shows petiole of ‘Victor’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION ‘Caprice’ (a.k.a. ‘109862’)

The following traits in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Caprice’ from the known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

‘Caprice’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe this plant as grown under normal conditions in Watsonville, Calif. unless otherwise noted.

TABLE 1 ‘Caprice’ CharType Characteristic ‘Caprice’ General Plant Habit annual Plant Growth Habit upright Day length Day Neutral Plant Height (cm)  35 Plant Width (cm)  32 Density of foliage medium Plant vigor moderate to high Leaf Terminal leaflet width (mm) 70 to 80 Terminal leaflet length (mm)  77.5 No. teeth/terminal leaflet:  25 Shape of the terminal leaflet base obtuse to rounded Shape of terminal leaflet in cross- straight section Margin description of the terminal serrate to crenate Color of upper side of leaves 137A Color of lower side of leaves 137C Leaf blistering weak Leaf glossiness strong Limbs Petiole length (cm)  26.5 Petiole diameter (mm)   3.68 Petiole color 145A Petiolule length (mm)   1.5 Petiolule diameter (mm)   2.32 Stipule length (cm)   2.5 Stipule width (cm)   0.7 Stipule anthocyanin Present Stipule color (color code) 149D Pedicel color (color code) 145A attitude of hairs on upwards petiole and pedicel Inflorescence Inflorescence position relative to above foliage flower arragement of petals touching Petal length (cm)   1.3 Petal width (cm)   1.5 Petl number per flower  5 to 6 Upper Petal color 155C Lower Petal color N999D Peduncle size medium Calyx diameter (cm)  3 to 4 Corolla diameter (cm)   2 Seapl length (cm)   1.1 Sepal width (cm)   0.7 Time of flowering March (50% of plants in bloom) Shape of stigma capitate Color or stigma  12A Length of style (mm)   2 Color of style  4A Color of the ovary 145A Length of the stamens (mm)   4 Number of stamen 23 to 25 Shape of anther dorsifixed Size of anther medium Color of anther  12A Amount of pollen medium Color of pollen  12A Color of filament 149D Length of filament (mm)   4 Number of flowers per truss  3 to 6 Stolon Stolon number   2 Stolon anthocyanin 181A Widest diameter of stolon   4.62 At leaf attachment (mm) Stolon color 145A Fruit Number of fruit per truss  2 to 4 Fruit length (cm)  34.1 Fruit width (cm)  29.5 Fruit skin color  41A Fruit fresh color excluding core  44A Fruit core color  41A Fruit weight (g)  22.7 Predominant fruit shape conic Shape difference between pri- No shape difference mary & secondary fruits Width of band without of achenes narrow Fruit glossiness medium Position of achenes below surface Achene color 145B Achenes per fruit  288 Achene weight (g)   0.17 Position of calyx even level of adherence of calyz medium Color of calyx 136A Firmness of flesh medium Evenness of flesh color nearly even Sweetness (brix)  10 pH   3.45 Yield (g per plant per season) 2791

‘Victor’ (a.k.a. ‘102850’)

The following traits in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Victor’ from the known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

‘Victor’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe this plant as grown under normal conditions in Watsonville, Calif. unless otherwise noted.

TABLE 2 ‘Victor’ CharType Characteristic ‘Victor’ General Plant Habit annual Plant Growth Habit spreading to semi- upright Day length Short Day Planting season Fall Height (cm)  36 Width (cm)  40 Density of foliage, vigor light to medium Plant vigor moderate Rain/weather tolerance moderate Harvest Ease easy to moderate Leaf Shape concave Terminal leaflet width (cm)   8.9 Terminal leaflet length (cm)   9.1 Terminal leaflet length/width ratio   1.02 Number of teeth/terminal leaflet 22 to 24 Shape of the terminal leaflet base obtuse Shape of terminal leaflet in cross- concave section Margin description of the terminal serrate Shape of teeth/margin serrate Color of upper side of leaves 137A Color of lower side of leaves 139C Leaf blistering weak Leaf glossiness medium Leaf variegation absent Terminal Leaflet margin flat Terminal Leaflet shape: orbicular Terminal Leaflet shape of base rounded Terminal Leaflet shape of apex rounded Limbs Petiole length (cm)  26 Petiole diameter (mm)   3.43 Petiole pubescence medium Petiole color 145B Petiolule length (cm)   1.8 Petiolule diameter (mm)   2.3 Stipule length (cm)   3.2 Stipule width (cm)   1 Stipule pubescence medium Stipule anthocyanin absent Stipule color (color code) 145C Pedicel color (color code) 145A Attitude of hairs on petiole annd pedicel horizontal Inflorescence Inflorescence position relative to above foliage Flower arragement of petals touching Flower size medium Petal shape oval Petal apex rounded Petal margin entire Petal base shape concave Petal length (cm)  1.1 to 1.5 Petal width (cm)  1.2 to 1.4 Petal length/width ratio  0.91 to 1.07 Petal number per flower  5 to 7 Upper Petal color (color code) 155C Lower Petal color (color code) 155C Peduncle size medium Calyx diameter (cm)   2.68 cm Corolla diameter (cm)  1.8 to 2.9 Calyx diameter relative to corolla larger to equal Inner calyx same size Diameter relative to outer smaller to equal Sepal shape elliptical Sepal apex convex Sepal margin entire Sepal length (cm)   1.3 Sepal width (cm)   0.35 Sepal number per flower  10 Receptacle color  6A Fertility (self-fertile or self-infertile) self-fertile Time of flowering (50% of plants in March bloom) Shape of stigma capitate Color of stigma  22A Length of style (mm)   2 Color of style  4A Color of the ovary 145C Number of stamen  26 Length of the stamens (mm)   4 Shape of anther dorsifixed Size of anther medium Color of anther  20A Amount of pollen scarse Color of pollen  12A Color of filament 145C Length of filament mm   3 stolon Stolon number  7 to 32 Stolon anthocyanin 184D Stolon thickness small to medium Stolon pubescence medium Widest diameter of stolon   3.4 At leaf attachment (mm) Stolon color 145B Fruit Fruiting truss length (cm)  12.1 Fruiting truss diameter (mm)   5.19 Number of fruit per truss  2 to 4 Fruiting truss attitude outwards Fruit length (cm)   5.21 Fruit width (cm)   3.36 Fruit skin color  44A to 45A Fruit flesh color excluding core  44A Fruit core color  41A Fruit length/width ratio   1.55 Fruit weight (g)  25.3 Relative fruit size medium Predominant fruit shape long-conic Shape difference between primary & No shape differ- secondary fruits ence Width of band without od achenes broad Fruit glossiness strong Position of achenes below surface Achene color 151D Achenes per fruit  288 Achene weight (g)   0.18 Position of calyx above surface level of adherence of calyx medium to strong Color of calyx 137A Pose of calyx segments reflexed Size of calyx in relation to fruit same to smaller Firmness of flesh medium to firm Evenness of flesh color even Fruit hollow length (cm)   2.7 Fruit hollow width (cm)   0.6 Fruit hollow length/width ratio   4.5 Hollow center small Sweetness (Brix)   9.5 Acidity (pH)   3.6 Texture when tasted medium Time of fruit ripening April Harvest maturity (50% of plants with April ripe fruit) Type of bearing Short Day Yield (grams per plant per season) 2776 Firmness firm Surface Texture smooth Appearance Score (from 1-5, with 5 =   4 best) Cull rate: 1-Per cent Usable Fruit   0.2 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘Caprice’ substantially as shown and described herein. 